Victim identified in fatal keg explosion at Redhook Brewery

PORTSMOUTH — The man killed in an industrial accident at the Redhook Brewery in Portsmouth this week has been identified as employee Benjamin Harris.

Harris suffered critical injuries when a pressurized beer keg exploded at Redhook's facility at the Pease Tradeport. He was rushed to Portsmouth Regional Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

On Wednesday, a hospital spokesperson confirmed Harris was the man killed in the blast.According to his Facebook page, Harris was a Newington resident, and was a native of Beaver Falls, Pa.

Portsmouth fire officials said Harris was cleaning residual liquid out of kegs by filling them with pressurized air when one of the containers ruptured at approximately 7 a.m. on Tuesday.

The explosion took place in a storage and supply area of the Redhook facility, which is located beside a brewery and pub at Pease Tradeport.

On Tuesday afternoon, Redhook Brewing's vice president of commercial operations, Andy Thomas, said the company is "doing everything in our power to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic accident.”

In a statement, Smith said all nonessential operations at the brewery, including the pub, will be closed while the investigation continues.

"We believe it would not be appropriate to comment further until the investigation is concluded," Thomas said in the statement. "Our sympathy is with his family and everyone touched by the tragedy."